Advancing Child Protection: Exploring the Influence of Clinical Social Workers in Schools on Reporting Neglect

Abstract School social workers are uniquely positioned to identify and report child maltreatment. This study examines whether LCSWs are more likely than non–clinically licensed social workers to report cases of child maltreatment. A cross-sectional survey design was used, collecting responses from 548 certified school social workers across Connecticut. Participants completed the Crenshaw Abuse Reporting Survey, which included vignettes depicting child neglect, inclusive of educational neglect and physical neglect, to assess reporting tendencies. Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the relationship between licensure status and reporting behavior. Results showed that LCSWs were significantly more likely to report cases of educational neglect (p < .03). These findings suggest that LCSWs comply more often with mandated reporting laws, potentially offering increased protection and consistency in child welfare interventions to vulnerable children experiencing physical or educational neglect. This research underscores the importance of policy implications in recruiting, selecting, mentoring, and employing clinically licensed social workers in schools to ensure adherence to child maltreatment reporting laws. This research serves as a call to action for policymakers to expand pathways to clinical licensure for school social workers and prioritize the recruitment of LCSWs to enhance child welfare outcomes.